My heart goes out to leaders across the globe. The combination of low commodity prices, increasing minimum wage, higher corporate taxes, greater regulation, historically high supplies of shale gas and oil requires decisive action for effected industries and firms.

Companies have responded with dramatic expense reduction. However, we know that companies do not achieve greatness by cutting their way to success.

While attending a global summit recently I reflected on my decades of work with leaders and specifically, what contributes to top line revenue growth.

Leaders hold a higher purpose

• When the CEO and the executive can cite the reasons they do the work they do and what motivates them beyond financial results, it elevates their strategic thinking, their leadership and the quality of their decisions.
• Remembering the reasons we pursue our work grounds us to retain perspective when results are soaring and buoy us through the difficult days.

Leaders pursue lifelong learning

• I love discussing new and re-discovered concepts with my clients. It is exhilarating to debate articles, public policy and approaches to address immediate issues and to foster long-term growth.
• Are you reading the Wall Street Journal (my go-to for news), engaging external advice, adding to your virtual bookshelf, or participating in discourse with your peers?

Explore beyond one’s borders

• Thought leaders extend their gaze beyond their own industry and geographic borders.
• Are you engaging in conversations with colleagues from other industries, countries and associations? If you are working in the energy industry, the current mood is downtrodden. What are ideas are you acquiring from the airline industry, pharmaceuticals or banking?

Pursue success not perfection

• Do your employees understand how Pareto’s principle applies to them? 20% of their actions are delivering 80% of their results.
• Speed trumps strategy.
• LEAN R&D trumps longer development cycles.
• Get to market.

Join me and 12-20 women to Design Your Third Chapter at the Juniper hotel in Banff–May 12-14. Register here.  Please share with family and friends.

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